The Blues boss made it plain after the win at Everton – which meant victory over the Reds will clinch the title – that he will focus on the two legs of the Champions League against Liverpool when it comes to his team selection.

And to further prepare City fans for a second-string side on Saturday, he then tweeted his feelings on the matter, to explain his reasoning.

He said in his press conference: “Of course I want to win against United at home but we have three days before we have Liverpool, afterwards we have three days before United and after we have three days before the second leg, so few recovery days.

“You have to use all the squad but that doesn’t mean the guys who play are not going to prepare to win.

“If we are in the position we are now in the Premier League it is because everyone has made his own contribution.

“That is going to happen. But I am sorry, as a manager, now Liverpool will occupy all my head.”

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That means players like Danilo, John Stones, Fabian Delph and Ilkay Gundogan – and anyone who does not figure at Anfield on Wednesday night – will step up to face United.

Guardiola followed his words with a direct explanation to the fans via Twitter, where he said: “We are going to adapt the Premier League game against United with respect to the Liverpool games in the Champions League. The line-up will be thinking about Liverpool.

“For the supporters I can understand. I'm a Barcelona supporter and we were able to win the league at home to Real Madrid and that is so special.”